I grappled with the decision to invest time in composing this review. The loss of my beloved iPhone 13 Pro this year took away many cherished memories spanning 2 to 3 years. Contemplating this article meant revisiting moments and confronting the sadness of losing those memories—a feeling I prefer to avoid. Nevertheless, I’ve chosen to write this review as a form of therapy, a means to reflect on the year and acknowledge my accomplishments. It’s a chance to be grateful for the progress made over the past year, despite the absence of my trusted confidant: My iPhone, which used to serve as a reminder of significant events. I aim to keep it simple and sweet, recounting the Year in Quarters while hoping to recall noteworthy events without relying on my now-missing companion.
Quarter 1: Cross Roads
I remember entering Q1 2023 with a lot of energy. Professionally, the brand I was managing had just won a string of awards at the end of 2022: Best Brand in the country (Nigeria), Best Rebranding Marketing Strategy in the country, and the entire team came into 2023 with a lot of fuel to keep that fire burning. We had poured in a lot of effort in the previous year, and our endeavors were appropriately recognized. We entered the new year with hopes to sustain that momentum. However, at the end of Quarter 1, due to macroeconomic factors beyond our control, my company decided to exit the brand.
I struggled with processing this information for a bit. I remember telling everyone I was fine, but was I?
Lessons from Q1: In life, You can give your very best, and things wouldn’t still work out exactly how you want. However, do your best because that’s all there is to do.
Quarter 2: New Opportunities
Coming into Quarter 2, I was not 100% sure what the future held for me professionally. However, I am very grateful to the wonderful people at my company; they tried their best to handle the implications of this exit. There were a lot of calls and messages of empathy that just made me feel I was not alone. Even leaders directly affected by this decision still had to find the strength to lead their teams through this.
Luckily for me, an opportunity I was a great fit for was available, and I was reassigned. Poetically, I was assigned to manage Nigeria’s market-leading Oral care Brand—the first brand I ever worked on, about 7 years ago, as a final year university undergraduate that eventually launched me into my exciting marketing career.
Also, late in Q2, I was offered a scholarship in the form of a graduate assistantship to pursue my MBA at Georgia State University, United States of America. Pursuing an MBA has been at the top of my mind for the last 2-3 years, and this scholarship would finally make this dream achievable.
Q2 also marked my 28th birthday. I took my most iconic birthday photograph to date. See the picture below:
Lessons from Quarter 2: When going through tough times, hang in there. With time, new opportunities will arise.
Quarter 3: New Frontiers
In early Q3, 2023, I got engaged to my girlfriend. It was a beautiful experience, and I am excited to begin the next phase of our relationship. If I must confess, a little scary too, but life is an act of faith. Isn’t it?
Exploring a New Country:
Also in Q3 2023, I started my MBA journey at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University in the United States of America. GSU is in the heart of Atlanta, and I fell in love with Atlanta, maybe because of the city vibe, very similar to Lagos, Nigeria. I am excited about the opportunities this degree will provide.
However, I also had to leave my life in Lagos behind, leave my family behind, leave my love behind. In that sense, it was hectic. I had to resign from my position at my job and had to get my affairs in order in a very short amount of time. It was a crazy time, but I am thankful to family and friends for the support they provided.
Quarter 4: Steadying the Ship
In Quarter 4, I settled into school better, gaining a better understanding of how the US University system worked. Despite dealing with some minor health challenges, I was thankful to God for showing Himself faithful, leading to a full recovery.
I completed my very first semester in my program with excellent grades. However, beyond the grades, I was grateful for the amount of information I assimilated. Examinations were demanding, but I applied myself as much as I could, and the results were rewarding.
Late in Q4, I had the opportunity to visit my Uncle’s family and close friend in Katy, Texas. It was great to explore another state in the US and gain a better grasp of what living in the United States of America is like.
New Year Doings:
2023 was a great year. While I’ve tried to highlight key moments in this post, in reality, it was far more complex and intricate than a blog post can capture. Overall, I’m thankful for a fulfilling year.
2024: I am super excited about the new year. There are already many opportunities to take advantage of, and God helping me, I will give my very best every day. I hope to keep you posted.
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